Mr. Bannon is not known for second-guessing himself and views apologies as signs of weakness. Nowhere in his statement on Sunday did he actually say he was sorry. But the turn of events represented a stunning reversal of fortune for a man who once operated with such autonomy in the White House that, as chief strategist, he reported only to the president himself. And he reiterated his allegiance in his statement, saying, “My support is also unwavering for the president and his agenda.” New York Times article above
The deadly serious MSNBC commentator Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer for George W. Bush, said something that got me to thinking.
“Bannon was an insider in the campaign at the highest level, and in the White House all the way to last August. He was talking to the president constantly – I can’t imagine Trump not confiding in him, including over the Russia inquiry.”
That in turn raises the possibility that Bannon might cooperate. Certainly, there is no love lost between him and Trump family members, notably the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Here’s the salient quote:
“Bannon may already be cooperating with Mueller for all we know,” Painter said. “He has no incentive to cover up for Trump, or his family members.” The Guardian
You may ask if this fanciful speculation is true, why is Bannon playing this major suck-up game to Trump. I think he may be trying to gaslight him so much you could write a movie about it…. Is it possible that Mueller has cut a deal with Bannon which has prompted him to try to get back into the White House and Trump’s good graces?
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Are Mueller and Bannon now playing a long game of save the country from Trump espionage with the goal of getting recorded evidence implicating Trump and others of criminal conspiracy, obstruction, and even treason? If Mueller can’t obtain an undetectable voice recorder for Bannon to wear, nobody can.
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What would be in this for Bannon? My own sense is that Mueller doesn’t have a bargaining chip with Bannon because, reprehensible as Steve is, he is too smart to have broken the law. Without his association with Trump he’ll go down in history as a footnote. If he brings down Trump he will be one of the most famous figures of American history.
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I have a title for his biography: "Revered and Reviled: The Sloppy Man Who Gaslighted Trump."